Straight and Crooked Thinking
# Straight and Crooked Thinking

Straight and Crooked Thinking, first published in 1930 and revised in 1953, is a book by Robert H. Thouless which describes, assesses and critically analyses flaws in reasoning and argument. Thouless describes it as a practical manual, rather than a theoretical one.

## Synopsis

Thirty-eight fallacies are discussed in the book. Among them are:

* No. 3. proof by example, biased sample, cherry picking
* No. 6. ignoratio elenchi: "red herring"
* No. 9. false compromise/middle ground
* No. 12. argument in a circle
* No. 13. begging the question
* No. 17. equivocation
* No. 18. false dilemma: black and white thinking
* No. 19. continuum fallacy (fallacy of the beard)
* No. 21. ad nauseam: "argumentum ad nauseam" or "argument from repetition" or "argumentum ad infinitum"
* No. 25. style over substance fallacy
* No. 28. appeal to authority
* No. 31. thought-terminating cliché
* No. 36. special pleading
* No. 37. appeal to consequences
* No. 38. appeal to motive
